President Yahya Jammeh yesterday received at State House the African Union plaque from a patriotic and young dynamic Gambian who skillfully designed an African map with an image of President Jammeh's embodied in the plaque. The Gambian leader thanked Jean Carvallo, the designer, for his brilliant idea and innovation, describing it as a magnificient work of art. He then urged Gambians to contribute something however small to the successful hosting of the AU Summit.

According to him, the inscription on the plaque: ‘The progress of Africa depends on its leaders and on its own people' is a reflection of his philosophy, emphasising that Africans have got to rely on themselves to redeem Africa. He said when African leaders read the inscription, they will realise that African socio-economic development and progress should come from within Africa and not from outside.

The first step towards achieving this, he said, is for Africans to do away with wars and conflicts and strive for the unity of the continent.

In presenting the plaque, Jean Carvallo said the plaque is his own contribution towards the  African Union Summit. He added he designed the plaque so that the government need not depend on external help.

Speaking earlier, Mr Yankuba Touray, the Secretary of State for Agriculture, said Carvallo's contribution is a testimony of the youth commitment to the success of the summit. He urged other youth to emulate him.

For his part,  Mr Alieu Ngum, the Secretary of State for Trade, Industry and Employment, called on the youth to come in their large numbers to welcome the august visitors during the Summit.